On Wednesday evening, from 17:55, Valencia hopes to win a new victory over Chelsea, in the 5th stage of the UEFA Champions League groups. The hosts have a lot of lot problems, while Frank Lampard’s team comes with the almost complete lot on Mestalla. Only Rudiger and Barkley are uncertain in the London lot.
Group H in UCL is the most balanced this season, and at this moment three teams have 7 points each, they are separated only by the goalkeeper. Ajax, Chelsea and Valencia have the highest chances of qualifying, while Lille is eliminated, with a single point accumulated in 4 matches. Chelsea is second, behind Ajax, while Valencia is 3rd. If Chelsea has a goal of 7-6 after the first stages, the “bats” boast a goal of 6-5.
The match in the tour was an atypical one, in the sense that Chelsea dominated the hostilities from a statistical point of view, and the victory of Valencia seemed unlikely until the end! The Spaniards prevailed on Stamford Bridge thanks to Rodrigo’s success (’74), but Barkley missed a penalty in the 87th minute, when he could make a point to the English. It was a festival of losers at the gate of Valencia, and Chelsea ended the match with 21 shots at the gate and 10 corners obtained. It was the first victory of the “bats” in front of Chelsea, after six straight duels!
Valencia is an inconsistent team, which won the championship games with Espanyol (2-1) and the revelation Granada (2-0), before giving in to Betis Sevilla (1-2). Chelsea lost the derby to Manchester City (1-3) at the weekend, although they led Etihad 1-0. Prior to this failure, Lampard’s team had defeated Crystal Palace (2-0) and Watford (2-1), while also drawing on their own ground with Ajax in the Champions League (1-1).
Valencia does not know if it will be able to rely on important holders such as Kondogbia, Piccini, Cheryshev, Coquelin, Diakhaby, Guedes and Sobrino, and their absence could decisively tilt the balance in favor of the guests. Under the command of Frank Lampard, Chelsea play quality football, and in the last 13 trips to the Champions League, the blue-and-blue have not even scored a goal! We will see quality football and a favorable result for the British.
PROBABLE TEAMS IN VALENCIA – CHELSEA
Valencia: Cillessen; Costa, Gabriel Paulista, Mangala, Gaya; Torres, Parejo, Wass, Vallejo; Gameiro, Gomez
Chelsea: Arrizabalaga; Azpilicueta, Zouma, Tomori, Palmieri; Sing, Jorginho; Willian, Mount, Pulisic; Abraham
PREDICTION: Chelsea to win @ 2,12
